558 research outputs found
On-chip spectro-detection for fully integrated coherent beam combiners
This paper presents how photonics associated with new arising detection
technologies is able to provide fully integrated instrument for coherent beam
combination applied to astrophysical interferometry. The feasibility and
operation of on-chip coherent beam combiners has been already demonstrated
using various interferometric combination schemes. More recently we proposed a
new detection principle aimed at directly sampling and extracting the spectral
information of an input signal together with its flux level measurement. The
so-called SWIFTS demonstrated concept that stands for Stationary-Wave
Integrated Fourier Transform Spectrometer, provides full spectral and spatial
information recorded simultaneously thanks to a motionless detecting device.
Due to some newly available detection principles considered for the
implementation of the SWIFTS concept, some technologies can even provide
photo-counting operation that brought a significant extension of the
interferometry domain of investigation in astrophysics . The proposed concept
is applicable to most of the interferometric instrumental modes including
fringe tracking, fast and sensitive detection, Fourier spectral reconstruction
and also to manage a large number of incoming beams. The paper presents three
practical implementations, two dealing with pair-wise integrated optics beam
combinations and the third one with an all-in-one 8 beam combination. In all
cases the principles turned into a pair wise baseline coding after proper data
processing.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, part of the Optics Express special issue
dedicated to Astrophotonic
Transmission behaviors of single mode hollow metallic waveguides dedicated to mid-infrared nulling interferometry
This paper reports the characterization of hollow metallic waveguides (HMW)
to be used as single-mode wavefront filters for nulling interferometry in the
6-20 microns range. The measurements presented here were performed using both
single-mode and multimode conductive waveguides at 10.6 microns. We found
propagation losses of about 16dB/mm, which are mainly due to the theoretical
skin effect absorption in addition to the roughness of the waveguide metallic
walls. The input and output coupling efficiency of our samples has been
improved by adding tapers to minimize the impedance mismatch. A proper
distinction between propagation losses and coupling losses is presented.
Despite their elevate propagation losses, HMW show excellent spatial filtering
capabilities in a spectral range where photonics technologies are only
emerging.Comment: This paper was published in Optics Express and can be found at
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-26-1800
M-lines characterization of selenide and telluride waveguides for mid-infrared interferometry
Nulling interferometry is an astronomical technique that combines equal
wavefronts to achieve a deep rejection ratio of an on-axis star, and that could
permit to detect Earth-like planets in the mid-infrared band 5 -- 20 microns.
Similarly to what is done in the near-infrared, high frequencies spatial
filtering of the incoming beams can be achieved using single-mode waveguides
operating in the mid-infrared. An appreciable reduction of the instrumental
complexity is also possible using integrated optics (IO) devices in this
spectral range. The relative lack of single-mode guided optics in the
mid-infrared has motivated the present technological study to demonstrate the
feasibility of dielectric waveguides functioning at longer wavelengths. We
propose to use selenide and telluride components to pursue the development of
more complex IO functions.Comment: accepted in OSA Optics Express, 11 pages, 4 figure
First fringes with an integrated-optics beam combiner at 10 um - A new step towards instrument miniaturization for mid-infrared interferometry
Observations at mas-resolution scales and high dynamic range hold a central
place in achieving, for instance, the spectroscopic characterization of
exo-Earths or the detailed mapping of their protoplanetary disc birthplace.
Ground or space-based multi-aperture infrared interferometry is a promising
technique to tackle these goals. But significant efforts still need to be
undertaken to achieve a simplification of these instruments if we want to
combine the light from a large number of telescopes. Integrated-optics appears
as an alternative to the current conventional designs, especially if its use
can be extended to a higher number of astronomical bands. This article reports
for the first time the experimental demonstration of the feasibility of an
integrated-optics approach to mid-infrared beam combination for single-mode
stellar interferometry. We have fabricated a 2-telescope beam combiner
prototype integrated on a substrate of chalcogenide glasses, a material
transparent from 1 to 14 um. We have developed laboratory tools to characterize
the modal properties and the interferometric capabilities of our device. We
obtain fringes at 10 um and measure a mean contrast V=0.981 \pm 0.001 with high
repeatability over one week and high stability over 5h. We show experimentally
- as well as on the basis of modeling considerations - that the component has a
single-mode behavior at this wavelength, which is essential to achieve
high-accuracy interferometry. From previous studies, the propagation losses are
estimated to 0.5 dB/cm for such components. We also discuss possible issues
that may impact the interferometric contrast. The IO beam combiner performs
well at 10. We also anticipate the requirement of a better matching between the
numerical apertures of the component and the (de)coupling optics to optimize
the total throughput. The next step foreseen is the achievement of wide-band
interferograms.Comment: Accepted in A&A; 7 pages; 7 figure
Astrophotonics: a new era for astronomical instruments
Astrophotonics lies at the interface of astronomy and photonics. This
burgeoning field -- now formally recognized by the optics community -- has
emerged over the past decade in response to the increasing demands of
astronomical instrumentation. Early successes include: (i) planar waveguides to
combine signals from widely spaced telescopes in stellar interferometry; (ii)
frequency combs for ultra-high precision spectroscopy to detect planets around
nearby stars; (iii) ultra-broadband fibre Bragg gratings to suppress unwanted
background; (iv) photonic lanterns that allow single-mode behaviour within a
multimode fibre; (v) planar waveguides to miniaturize astronomical
spectrographs; (vi) large mode area fibres to generate artificial stars in the
upper atmosphere for adaptive optics correction; (vii) liquid crystal polymers
in optical vortex coronographs and adaptive optics systems. Astrophotonics, a
field that has already created new photonic capabilities, is now extending its
reach down to the Rayleigh scattering limit at ultraviolet wavelengths, and out
to mid infrared wavelengths beyond 2500nm.Comment: 5 pages, Editorial for the Focus Issue on Astrophotonics (Optics
Express); all 12 papers are free to air at
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/Issue.cf
Novel mRNA-specific effects of ribosome drop-off on translation rate and polysome profile
IS and MCR were supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk) BB/N017161/1. IS was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk) BB/I020926/1. PB and MCR were supported by the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) (http://www.sulsa.ac.uk). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Image potential states as quantum probe of graphene interfaces
Image potential states (IPSs) are electronic states localized in front of a
surface in a potential well formed by the surface projected bulk band gap on
one side and the image potential barrier on the other. In the limit of a
two-dimensional solid a double Rydberg series of IPSs has been predicted which
is in contrast to a single series present in three-dimensional solids. Here, we
confirm this prediction experimentally for mono- and bilayer graphene. The IPSs
of epitaxial graphene on SiC are measured by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy
and the results are compared to ab-initio band structure calculations. Despite
the presence of the substrate, both calculations and experimental measurements
show that the first pair of the double series of IPSs survives, and eventually
evolves into a single series for graphite. Thus, IPSs provide an elegant
quantum probe of the interfacial coupling in graphene systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Journal of Physic
Wavelength-scale stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform spectrometry
Spectrometry is a general physical-analysis approach for investigating
light-matter interactions. However, the complex designs of existing
spectrometers render them resistant to simplification and miniaturization, both
of which are vital for applications in micro- and nanotechnology and which are
now undergoing intensive research. Stationary-wave integrated Fourier-transform
spectrometry (SWIFTS)-an approach based on direct intensity detection of a
standing wave resulting from either reflection (as in the principle of colour
photography by Gabriel Lippmann) or counterpropagative interference
phenomenon-is expected to be able to overcome this drawback. Here, we present a
SWIFTS-based spectrometer relying on an original optical near-field detection
method in which optical nanoprobes are used to sample directly the evanescent
standing wave in the waveguide. Combined with integrated optics, we report a
way of reducing the volume of the spectrometer to a few hundreds of cubic
wavelengths. This is the first attempt, using SWIFTS, to produce a very small
integrated one-dimensional spectrometer suitable for applications where
microspectrometers are essential
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